On Saturday, Coleman Hawkins and Kansas State shocked Hunter Dickinson and 16th-ranked Kansas with an upset victory in Manhattan. This marked the seventh meeting between the two highly-paid fifth-year seniors.
The storyline is clear: Hawkins has owned Dickinson in their matchups.
Hawkins, a former three-star recruit, spent four seasons at Illinois, while Dickinson, a former four-star recruit, began his career at Michigan before transferring to Kansas. The two players faced off once as freshmen, twice as sophomores, and once as juniors—every time, the Illini emerged victorious over the Wolverines.
After that, Dickinson made the jump to Kansas, reportedly with a lucrative NIL deal valued around $2 million per year for two years, though the exact figure is unconfirmed. Hawkins remained at Illinois for his true senior year in 2023/24. While Illinois didn’t face Kansas during the regular season, they did defeat the Jayhawks in an exhibition game back in October.
Fast forward to June, and Coleman Hawkins entered the transfer portal, ultimately committing to Kansas State. The Wildcats are paying him around $2 million for a one-year deal, matching what Hunter Dickinson reportedly receives at Kansas.
Now, the two meet again, but this time as bitter rivals!
Kansas had beaten Kansas State by 10 points in Lawrence last month, but Kansas State got their revenge with an eight-point victory in the Little Apple on Saturday. Hawkins had a solid performance, finishing with 12 points, eight assists, and five rebounds.
Coleman Hawkins has faced off against Hunter Dickinson seven times in his career, with Hawkins holding a 5-1 record in regular-season matchups and a 6-1 record overall, including an exhibition game. The Wildcats are currently riding a five-game winning streak, dating back to January 25, and they could potentially sneak into the NCAA Tournament if they continue their strong play.
For now, though, Hawkins is relishing the rivalry victory. During his postgame press conference, he took the opportunity to assert his dominance over Dickinson, adding more fuel to the intense rivalry between the two.
